In a Biennale led by its first woman curator Anita Dube and in which over 50% of the participating artists are women, there’s going to be more women power with the Kudumbashree workers gearing up to play a major role in it.
There will be a food court run by the Kudumbashree women at Cabral Yard, the focal point of the Kochi Muziris Biennale with its grand pavilion, a centre featuring their products and a live demonstration of craft made by their units.
A memorandum of understanding for this was signed between Kudumbashree Mission executive director S. Hariskishore and Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) president Bose Krishnamachari in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. Local Self-Governments Minister A.C. Moideen was present on the occasion.
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The Kudumbashree activities will run through the whole length of the Biennale, 108 days, starting from December 12.
The KBF had forged a relationship with the State’s women empowerment programme, Kudumbashree, last year when it held a workshop ‘Varayude Penma’, followed by an exhibition, for women artists of the Kudumbashree. “The relationship has just got stronger. In fact, we look forward to working with the wards of Kudumbashree members, bringing them to the world of art,” Mr. Krishnamachari told The Hindu .
The project is part of the five infra projects also curated by Ms. Dube and which seeks to showcase the culinary history of Indian culture, with legacy food, rare recipes, local preparations and lost cuisine, adding richness to the repertory of the Biennale.
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The Café Kudumbashree food court at Cabral Yard would feature women from 20 units of the Mission, said a press release from Kudumbashree. Artists will add value to the products made by the Mission at its pavilion. A video on the Mission will be screened at the Biennale daily. There will be a seminar on women empowerment led by the Mission’s gender wing and a play by the community theatre group, Rangasree, will be staged at the Biennale.